Gas operated pump for oil wells and the like



W. E. GREEN Feb. 29, 1944.

GAS OPERATED PUMP FOR OIL WELLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 18, 1941 TOR: GEEENJ mi l a I v! fizw INVEN W74 so/v. E.

ATTORNEY tubular 'barrel [4;

Patented Feb. 29, 1944 GAS OPERATED PUMP AND THE OFFlCE FOR OIL WELLS LIKE Wilson E. Green, Eunice, N Mex. Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,128

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of pumping oil wells and the like and particularly relates to that class of such apparatus in which gas under pressure is used for operating a pump in the well. 7 The common forms of pumps used for the purposes indicated are usually operated by a strin of rods which extend from the pump in the well to appropriate mechanism above the ground which causes a reciprocation of the rods. Such apparatus is costly and is subject to breakage due to the stresses imposed on it during operaflou In the present invention no rods or other mechanical means are provided extending to the surface of the ground for operation of a pump but on the other hand gas or air under pressure is conducted from the surface of the'ground to what may be termed a pump operating assembly and directly connected to a common form of pump located the well.

One of the rincipal objects of the present above the plunger i9.

in the barrel II, such plunger, as shown in Fig. 5, being threaded on the lower end of a hollow shaft or pump rod 20. This rodis provided with a valve seat indicated at II which receives a ball valve. 22 thereon. The rod is slotted as indicated at 28 to permit oil which has passed through the valve 22 to be discharged into the barrel I! The pump rod is coupled to a drive rod 24 which extends through a packing box 26 mounted in a head 21 secured in' the lower end of an inner tubular barrel indicated at 30.

The upon a pair of arms 32 which are secured to and extend downwardly from a piston 34. Numeral 35 indicates a tube which is threaded into the piston, .the lowerend of the. tube forming a valve seat to receive a valve member 36 at the or i'luid motor which is closely associated with duced into the column of oil in the tubing above the apparatus whereby such columnzof oil is not only lightened but is also given added impetus in its upward movement through the =tubing to the surface of the ground.

Other obie'ctsand advantages will appear from the following description and .the drawing. the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation-of the pump and the pump operating assembly showing the, parts stroke,

in their relative positions at the end of the downstroke;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in the position assumed when the apparatus has reached the end of the upstroke;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on. line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a iragmentary vertical sectional view on line 5-! of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of my inventionshown in the drawing numeral ll indicates the well casing on line 0-4 of having perforations ll through which oil enters the well from the surrounding oil sands. Suspended by the tubing l3 which extends to the top of the well is what I have termed an outer The lower end of this barrel II is provided with a head I! intowhich is threaded or otherwise secured the upper end of a pump barrel i6. Oil may enter the lower end of this barrel through an opening H, the passage of oil therethrough being controlled by a valve indicated at It. it indicates a plunger movable lower end of a valve stem 31 which extends upwardly through the tube 35 and through an opening indicated at I! in a plate 40 forming part of a cage generally indicatedat ll.

This cage comprises the flat perforated upper plate ll from which .extend rods 42 to a lower plate indicated at 43, such lower plate I! beini also perforated as indicated at N. 45 indicates a cross bar secured to the valve stem .31 which. when the apparatus is at the end of the down rests upon the upper plate 40. The'upper end of the stem 81 extends through and is guided in the upper part 48 Man upper cage or open frame indicated at 41. Plate 0 is also provided with a central opening I. to slidably receive and guide the tube 3!. f

Mounted on the valve stem 31 and having its lower end resting on the cross bar It is a light spring indicated at N. The upper .end of the tube which may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. A tripping finger i3 is pivotally mounted on the bracket II and normally rests upon and is supported by a fixed collar I4 secured to the stem 31.

Mounted on the tube It and interpomd between the bottom plate I! and the upper face of the piston 34' is a heavy coil spring, 5!. The

manner: the upper plate 40 of the cage abuts against lugs indicated at 58 which extend in-.

wardly from the inner face of the inner barrel 30, and, as indicated at ll bolts I extend through the inner and outer barrels having their inner ends below the bottom plate 43 of the cage it so that the cage is maintained in position be- I tween the lugs 58 and the inner ends of the bolts or screws ii.

The upper end ofthe inner I barrel is provided upper end of the drive rod 24 is mounted 35 is provided with an ear or bracket 5| with a check valve generally indicated at I and consisting of a valve seat 62 and a ball 63 in a cage 04. The upper end of the outer barrel is provided with a fitting indicated at 05 which connects the upper end of such barrel with the tubing II, the fitting being provided with a valve seat indicated at 66 and a ball valve indicated at 01.

Extending downwardly through the tubing l3 from above ground where any suitable means may be utilized for introducing gas under pressure, is a pipe It. This pipe is provided with a connecting pipe H which extends through the tubing and into the space between the inner and outer barrels 30 and M respectively. The portion of the space between the inner and outer barrels into which the gas pipe extends constitutes a passage which is indicated at 12 and is formed by longitudinal walls I! and I l (see Fig. 3) which extend between the inner and outer barrels. 'Ijhe gas passage is closed at the bottom by means of a plug or block 14.

At the lower end 01 the passage 12 an inlet port II is provided in the inner barrel so that gas under pressure from the passage 12 may enter the barrel below piston 3|. The remainder oi the space between the inner and outer barrels forms an oil passage, indicated at Ii, which.is in open communication with the pump barrel It and with the valve 61 at the juncture of the tubing l3 and the outer barrel.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When the parts are in their relative positions shown in Fig. 1, the pump plunger I8 is at the bottom of its stroke as is also the piston 34 and when in this position the fluid under pressure, which may be air or gas, moves the piston 34 upwardly in the inner barrel and by reason oi such pressure also causes the valve 36 to remain closed during such upward movement. The piston '34 being connected to the pump by rod 24 moves the plunger l9 upwardly in the pump barrel It. This produces a suction under the plunger, opens the valve I8 and draws oil into the barrel under the plunger from the bottom of the well, the valve 22 remaining closed on such up stroke. This set of conditions causes the oil above the plunger I! to move upwardly and into the perforations II in the tube 85 above the piston I4 and any oil which may have collected at such portion oi the apparatus will be blown upwardly with the gas as it passes into the tubing.

until the piston has substantially reached the I lower end of its stroke where the operations just described are repeated.

Although in the foregoing description it has been pointed out as a feature of the invention that the gas exhausted from the region below the oil passage 10 between the inner and outer barrels, such moving body of oil causing the valve 01 to open and the oil to enter the tubing it. During this upward movement oi the piston and connected parts, the spring 56 is compressed and after a portion of the upward movement the spring is compressed. As the plunger approaches the end of its upward movement, the trip It engages thelower face of the plate 40 of the cage ll and by such contact is depressed, thereby moving the rod 31 dovq iwardly through the medium of the collar 54, opening the valve into the position shown in Fig. 2, the other parts of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2 being in their proper relative positions when the piston 34 has reached the upper end of its stroke.

The opening of the valve it releases the gas under the piston 34 and permits it to rapidly discharge through the tube 35 and upwardly through the valve 63 into the body of oil above such valve and through the valve 61 into the oil in the tube and mixing therewith not only lightens such oil but at the same time gives the oil in the tubing an added impetus on its upward movement therethrough.

During this upward movement of the gas a portion of such gas is also discharged through the piston is introduced into the column of pumped oil, it is contemplated that in some installations it may be desirable to exhaust such gas externally or the pumping apparatus so that it will not enter the column or pumped liquid. In order to meet this contingency, the well pumping apparatus is provided with a short nipple 18 extending between the inner and outer barrels providing a communicating port from the interior of the inner barrel above the piston to the exterior of the outer barrel. In the drawing this port has been shown closed by a plug 19. During operation or the pump operating assembly, ii the plug 18 is removed, practically all of the exhaust gas will escape through this port to a point exterior of the outer barrel.

It is contemplated that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure without departing from the invention and in this connection it is within the scope of the invention to utilize various types of oil well pumps in combination with the pump operating assembly in place of the particular type oi pump shown and described for the purpose of illustration.

I claim as my invention:

1. In well pumping apparatus, a string of tubing extending into the well; a reciprocating plunger type pump; an outer barrel connected to the lower end of the string of tubing at its upper end and having its lower end in communication with the pump; an inner barrel in said outer barrel spaced apart therefrom; wal1 means extending longitudinally between the barrels forming a passageway for the flow of oil upwardly from the pump to the string of tubing and a passage for the flow or gas downwardly: a gas operated motor in said inner barrel; a port in" said inner barrel providing communication between the motor therein and the gas passage be;

tween said barrels; means for supplying gas under pressureto the gas passage; means adapted to connect said motor with the plunger of said pump; and means for exhausting the gas from said motor at a suitable point.

2. In wel1 pumping apparatus, a string of tubing extending into the well; a reciprocating Plunger type pump; an outer barrel connected to the lower end of the string of tubing at its upper end and having its lower end in communication with the pump; an inner barrel in said outer barrel spaced apart therefrom to form an oil passage between the barrels; a piston in said inner barrel; means connecting said piston with the plunger of said pump; means for introducing gas under pressure into the lower end of said inner barrel below said piston; means yi ldably urging said piston downwardly; and means for permitting escape of gas from below said piston to communication with the pumped oil at a point above the pump when the piston approaches the limit of its upward stroke and during a substantial portion of the downward stroke of said piston.

3. In well pumping apparatus, a string of tubing extending into the well; a reciprocating plunger type pump; an outer barrel connected to the lower end of the string of tubing at its upper end and having its lower end in communication with the pump; an inner barrel in said outer barrel spaced apart therefrom to form an oil passage between the barrels; a piston in said inner barrel; means connecting said piston with the plunger of said pump; means for introducing gas under pressure into said inner barrel at one end of said piston; means yieldably urging said piston toward the end of said barrel into which the gas is introduced; and means for permitting escape of gasfrom said barrel to a desired point during a certain portion of the stroke of said piston. V

4. In well pumping apparatus; a string of tubing extending into the well; a reciprocating plunger type pump; an outer barrel connected to the lower end of the string of tubing at its upper end and having its lower end in communication with the pump; aninner barrel in said outer barrel spaced apart therefrom to form an oil passage between the barrels; said inner barrel being closed at its lower end and being provided with an inwardly opening check valve at its upper end; a piston in said inner barrel; means connecting said piston with the plunger of said pump; means for introducing gas under pressure into the lower end of said inner barrel below said piston; means yieldably urging said piston downwardly; and means for permitting escape of gas from below said piston to the upper end of said barrel when the piston approaches the limit of its upward stroke and during a substantial portion of the downward stroke.

5. In a well pump operating means, the combination of: a barrel; a piston in said barrel; closure means for the lower end of said barrel; a rod extending through the closed end of the barrel; means yieldably urging said piston downwardly; means providing communication to opposite sides of said piston; a valve controlling said communication means and including a valve member having a valve stem extending upwardly from said piston; means for positively opening said valve when the piston reaches the upper limit of its stroke; a relatively light spring operable to hold said valve open during the major portion of its return stroke; and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the lower end of said barrel below said piston.

6. In a well pump operating means, the combination of: a barrel having an upwardly opening check valve in the upper part thereof and having closure means at its lower end; a piston in said barrel; an operating rod connected to municatlon between the motor therein and the said piston and extending downwardly therefrom through the lower end of said barrel; a tube mounted on said piston, said tube forming a fluid passage for providing communication to opposite sides of said piston; a valve adapted to control said fluid passage including an upwardly extending valve stem; means in said barrel for limiting downward movement of said valve stem; means for yieldably resisting upward movement of said valve stem after said valve stem has moved a limited distance with said piston; an abutment on said valve stem; 9. pivotally mounted trigger on the upper end of said tube engageable with a stationary element in said barrel and with said abutment on said valve stem for opening said valve; means yieldably urging said piston downwardly; and means for admitting fluid under pressure into the lower end of said barrel below said piston.

a 7. In a well pump operating means, the combination of: a barrel; a piston in said barrel; closure means for the lower end of said barrel; a rod mounted on said piston and extending through said closure means; a tube mounted on said piston extending upwardly therefrom; a valve seat at the lower end of said tube; a valve normally seated on said valve seat; a valve stem extending upwardly from said valve; an open cage mounted in said barrel in fixed relation thereto having a part forming a guide for said tube; a pivoted member on said tube engageable with a part of the cage and with the valve stem to open the valve at a predetermined point in the stroke of said piston; yieldable means between the cage and the upper face of the piston; guide means for the upper end of the valve stem above the cage; a cross barflxed to said valve stem normally resting on a part of said cage; a light spring on said stem seated on said cross bar adapted to engage said cage; and means for introducing gas under pressure into said barrel below said piston.

8. In a well pumping apparatus, a string of tubing extending into the well; a plunger type pump; an outer barrel connected to the lower end of the string of tubing at its upper end and having its lower end in communication with the pump; an upwardly opening check valve between said tubing and said outer barrel; an inner barrel in said outer barrel spaced apart therefrom; wall means extending longitudinally between the barrels forming a passageway for the flow of oil upwardly from the pump to the string 01' tubing and a passage for the flow of gas downwardly; means for supplying gas under pressure to the gas passage; a gas operated motor in said inner barrel; a port in said inner barrel providing comgas passage between said barrels; means adapted to connect said motor with the plunger 01 said pump; and means for exhausting the gas from said motor at a suitable point.

WILSON E. GREEN. 

